A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday near Vallur in Ongole, Prakasam district, when a minibus en route from Palamaner to Vijayawada veered off National Highway 16, struck a culvert, and overturned. The devastating accident resulted in one immediate fatality and left several others with serious injuries.
Police reports indicate that the minibus was transporting 20 employees from the Electrical Department in Palamaner, Chittoor district, who were traveling to Vijayawada for a protest. The driver, Vinod Nidramathu, lost control of the vehicle at approximately 3:10 a.m., shortly after passing the RISE Krishna Sai Gandhi Group of Institutions, causing it to hit a roadside culvert and plunge into a canal.
The victim was identified as Kamatam Charan Kumar, 35, an energy assistant at the Pathikonda Secretariat from Pathikonda village, Gangavaram mandal, Chittoor district. He leaves behind his wife, Preethi, and their four-year-old daughter, Likhitha.
Upon receiving news of the crash, a rapid response team comprising Ongole Two Town CI M. Srinivasa Rao, Tanguturu SI V. Nagamaleswara Rao, along with highway and fire department personnel, quickly arrived at the scene. Their swift actions were crucial in rescuing the injured, who were subsequently transported to RIMS Hospital in Ongole for urgent medical attention.
Prakasam District SP V. Harshavardhan Raju and Ongole DSP R. Rayapati Srinivasa Rao lauded the police officials for their commendable rescue operation, which saved 19 lives. Authorities also worked to reassure the families of the injured, emphasizing that their loved ones were receiving appropriate care and there was no cause for undue alarm.